Currency: New Turkish Lira
Meals

Budget: EURO 2-5
Mid-range: EURO 5-12
High: EURO 12-20
Deluxe: EURO 20+

Lodging

Budget: EURO 5-15
Mid-range: EURO 15-40
High: EURO 40-65
Deluxe: EURO 65+

Turkey is a low-slung dollar burner. You can travel on as little as USD20.00 per day using buses and trains, staying in pensions, and eating one restaurant meal. For USD25.00-USD40.00 you can travel on plusher buses, take well-cushioned train seats, kick back in one and two-star hotels and eat most meals in restaurants. For USD40.00-USD80.00 per day you can move up to 3 and 4-star hotels, take the occasional airline flight, and dine in restaurants all the time.

Keep in mind that high inflation has rendered the single lira completely worthless. A simple restaurant bill or taxi fare runs into millions of liras.

In cheaper restaurants it’s not necessary to leave more than a few coins in the change plate. In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even if a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill, you’re expected to give around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre d’. Porters expect a dollar or so; in taxis you might like to round up the bill; in other situations, for example, helpful guardians at archaeological sites, delicacy is required. Although a tip may be initially refused through politeness, you should offer the money a second and third time. After three refusals, you can safely assume they really don’t want the money